illicit

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈlɪsɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-sət/ (ame, mw)

illicit — adjective

  • illicitpositive
  • more illicitcomparative
  • most illicitsuperlative

1. describing something that breaks the law, or something that society or a group d

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing something that breaks the law, or something that society or a group does not approve of and tries to keep hidden

例句

Police seized two trucks loaded with illicit drugs near the border last night.

attributive use: illicit + noun (illicit drugs, illicit weapons)

Dahlia lost her job after the bank discovered her illicit transfers to a private account.

collocation: illicit transfers / payments / dealings

同義詞
  • illegal

    covers any breach of law; lacks the hidden-or-shameful undertone of illicit

  • unlawful

    formal/legal register; focuses on lawbreaking only, not social disapproval

  • illegitimate

    often about authority or birth rather than concealment

  • forbidden

    neutral 'not allowed'; can be by rule, not necessarily by law

反義詞
  • lawful

    directly opposite for the legal meaning

  • permitted

    more general; opposite for the rule-based meaning

文法句型

illicit + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used attributively (before a noun): 'illicit drugs', 'illicit affair'. Rarely sits after 'be'. Covers two related ideas — clearly illegal acts (drugs, weapons, trafficking) AND acts that break social or moral rules even if technically legal (a secret affair, a forbidden cigarette).

常見錯誤

❌The contract was illicit because both sides agreed.
✅The contract was illegal because it broke labour law.
💡'illicit' suggests secrecy or moral wrongdoing, not just unlawful; for plain legal status, use 'illegal' or 'unlawful'.
❌Their love was illicit and beautiful.
✅Their secret affair was illicit and risky.
💡'illicit' carries a negative tone of hidden wrongdoing, so it rarely sits comfortably with positive words like 'beautiful'.